Anyone else NOT like the hand prime tool?

[griz]

I’ve used the Lee and RCBS hand primers. On both of them it is easy to feel the primer seating at the correct depth. The Lee works well but wears out fast. It also requires special shell holders. The RCBS looks like it will never wear out but mine doesn’t always feed the primers from the tray. They get hung up where they are hard to see and sometimes flip upside down.

Most of my priming is now done on an RCBS 2000 with the primers in strips. It works fine.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I've had trouble seating large primers with my RCBS hand priming tool. It does OK with small primers, but not large ones.
The large seating rod is shorter than the small rod. That's the problem.
I've called RCBS several times and each time they send me the same length rod or some other replacement part which doesn't solve the problem. I've given up on RCBS.
Right now, I only use it for small primers. If I want to use it for large, I guess I'll have to make my own seating rod for the darned thing.
Might be easier to simply buy another brand.

 

[bogie]

Precision vs. durability...

I go with Lee over most of the others. I use a K&M for 6PPC, a Neuler (antique pre-Sinclair) for 6BR (.308 case head with small primer, and Lee for everything else. The Lee shell holders _are_ standard - they're used by K&M and Sinclair, and work very well.

I've noticed maybe 3-4 non-Lee/K&M/Sinclair priming tools at benchrest matches. Most of the "production/durable" tools just don't have the precise feel.

 

[Timothy]

My RCBS hand hand primer works fine and always has. No problems for many K.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I can't believe nobody mentioned...

Hornady.

I broke the tops off of 2 Lee Auto Primes over 20 years and then bought the Hornady tool. It works great. Costs twice as much as the Lee but looks like it should outlast the Lee at least three times over.

 

[Bottom Gun]

Larry,

Will the Hornady use RCBS shell holders?

 

[Unisaw]

I use the RCBS hand priming tool for all of my reloading. The only problem I have had is that the tray cover sometimes loosens enough that a primer can turn over. Overall, I'm happy with the tool.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Bottom Gun,

Yes, the Hornady uses standard shell holders. I've only used mine for a couple hundred cases, but I'm sold on it. Where you use your thumb with the Lee, the Hornady works more like a pair of pliers.

 

[Poodleshooter]

I broke my Lee AutoPrime last night after several thousand rounds. The lever snapped where it pivots on the link. The link is also showing a great deal of wear (basically a groove is worn into it). I wonder why they can't just make the thing out of steel? Even if it doubles the price, it would still be nearly the same price as the other brands, and would be far simpler.
I'm debating whether to buy several years of Lee levers and toggle links, an extra Lee AutoPrime and some parts, or just get an RCBS handpriming tool.

 

[JB3rd]

2nd vote for the Hornady. Got two, one for large primers and one for small. (actually, only ordered one...two got shipped, vendor said their mistake--keep it ) Only a few hundred rounds through each, but both work fine. IMHO, ergonomics are superior to Lee, as squeezing like pliers provides me greater sensitivity to the seating of the primer and doesn't tire my thumb.

Haven't tried the RCBS, but like the idea of the primer strips--no chance of spilling primers from a tray, and CCI sells their primers already packaged in the strips. Look ma, no mess! (and no exploding vacuum cleaners when lost primers are sucked up)

Now that I'm thinking about it....might have to get one of those, too. Another 2for1 would be great

 

[swifter]

Used a Lee for years until I got a misfire problem with my .338.
Finally tracked it down to the POS was seating primers about .007" off the bottom of the pocket. rebuilt the Lee, still did it. Never did figure out why, just tossed it, now use a Bonanza benchmounted tool and love it
Tom

 

[ed dixon]

Primed my first 100 with RCBS tool that came in the mail a few days ago. One turned primer was easily cleared and the rest went in without a hitch. Very nice so far. Think it was this thread that prompted me to order one.

 

[Lancel]

Just part of the chorus...

Started with a Lee Auto primer. But It's been in the back of the drawer for years since I prefer it's replacement, a RCBS Hand Primer.

Larry

 

[Bullet]

I use the Sinclair stainless priming tool. These will last longer than me. Works great too.

 

[4godsako]

I don't know what these hand primer manufactures mean when they badmouth press/ram type primers?
It usually stated 'one can't feel the primer seating' ..............................Hmmmmmm? Well I can and I've been using a Lee Challenger for years.
I know it's considered an entry level press but I find the Lee ram prime faultless.
Got to admit I have never even tried a hand primer but I'm sure they have their advantages!
Like my mum's kitchen............. I just don't want TOO many gadgets........

 

[coonan357]

I have the lee autoprime II and the rcbs hand primer , I use the had primer for when I want to prime a load of shells while watching tv , and the auto prime when I lock myself up in my little room from the crazies outside .. BTW they both work well for the amount of priming I have done

 

[Yo]

APS strip hand primer

THE best hand-priming system in existance right now is the RCBS hand tool that uses APS strips.

I wish it had more leverage, but nothing is easier to use or more trouble free. Just pop in a strip, seat a primer, and it advances one notch to the next primer.

It even has a universal shell holder.

I've tried other hand primers--Lee, RCBS with the tray, even the Sinclair. This system is the best, by far.

 

[yds1000two]

hand priming tool

Hi, this new priming tool might change your mind about hand priming. Its CNC billet aluminum and stainless steel. It uses lee trays. A dial on the side of the body adjust ramrod lingth,primer seating presure is adjustable-excellent feedback. also has a safty that only alows one peimer to be seated at a time. Oh I forgot, Its 100% USA made by 21st century shooting inc. I been reloading more than 33 years this the best priming tool I have seen yet. Thanks JR

 

[PT1911]

7 years, 6 months....I bet it was sleeping well too!....

 

[GW Staar]

Mine was an RCBS. I tried to prime some LC brass with the crimp removed and Remington 7 1/2 primers. Worst experience (after that doctor slap me of course)of my life. I bought the tool specifically for that and it left primers seated high medium and only a few were just right. Fixed the 50 I primed up on the Rockchucker, and went back to press priming.

Sold the RCBS and won't go back. Anyone have a similiar problem?

Wow! All those posts and nobody hit upon the problem. There's more than likely nothing wrong with your hand primer unless you got a lemon.

Some LC brass is notorious for not swaging well, and if you chamfer instead of swaging you've got to make damn sure "all" of the crimped area is gone. It you leave a little, your hand primer will deform the primers going in.

If you swage, sometimes a tiny circle of brass is sheared and drops into the pocket...which means the primer seats high. Your press primer has way more torque, and only means the primers were "forced" to fit.

Lucky day for the guy you sold your RCBS primer to.

I also agree with the post saying the RCBS APS hand primer is the best of the best. The Sinclair is also wonderful.....if you like to prime one at a time...I don't!

 

[jcwit]

After using the press priming tool for the first couple of months I moved up to a Hornady hand primer, then was given a Lee hand priming tool as we know them today, then acquired a couple of the old one at a time Lee tools from the early days of Lee. All these tools are now for dedicated calibers mostly. For precision reloading I use a K&M hand primer with excellant results, frankly can't see the expense of $100 bucks for the Sinclare, Way, Way overpriced or they haven't discovered CNC machinery, K&M runs approx $40 today.

As far as having problems priming Lake City brass I also think the problem was in case prep and not with the Lee hand priming tools.

 

[paperpuncher49]

Chainsaw-
The only question I would ask is was the crimp really removed? Sounds to me like a primer pocket problem. I have used the RBCS and Lee hand tools for 1000s and 1000s of rounds over a period of many years and I won't claim I never had a problem, but every time I did it wasn't the fault of the hand tool(s).

 

[floydster]

I have a new LNL pro, but it absolutely sucks for priming, any little media any where near the press will screw up the priming!!
I hand prime with a lee for large and small primers, after 30,000 primed it's the only way to go.
Floydster

 

[Hondo 60]

I tried a Lee hand primer & let's just say I like doing it on the press a whole lot better.

 

[Mal H]

For all you folks responding to Chainsaw, he hasn't logged in for over 3 1/2 years.

yds1000two, I have to ask, why in the world would you resurrect a thread that is well over 7 years old and talking about the RCBS hand primer only to introduce a new hand priming tool? The "New Thread" button works just as well as the "Post Reply" button.